Man in Dreams

The Price of Choosing Love

After lunch, Maya exchanged a meaningful glance with Yoongi before holding his hand. "Appa," she began, her voice steady but filled with emotion, "he is not only Hobi's friend; he is my boyfriend too."

"What?" her father exclaimed, shock evident on his face.

"Yes, uncle," Yoongi interjected respectfully. "I love Maya, and I want to marry her."

"Impossible," Mr. Krishnan said, shaking his head. "Maya, how could you love someone who is not from our culture or religion? What made you believe that I would allow you to marry him? Where did you get this guts from?"

Her father's anger was palpable. Maya took a deep breath and responded, "Love is not in our hands, Appa. I love him, and he loves me more than anything. I can't imagine a life without him; he is my everything."

Before she could finish, her father interrupted harshly, "Enough, Maya! It's not happening!" He slammed his hand on the table, turning to her mother. "Janani, did you know about this?"

Her mother nodded. "Yes, I did."

"How could you, Janani? Knowing me, did you support them?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

"I have seen how he treats her," her mother replied calmly. "Even though I didn't agree at first, I felt he truly loves her, and she will be happy only with him."

"Enough, Janani! I didn't expect this from you," Mr. Krishnan retorted, frustration clear in his voice.

Hobi intervened, stepping forward. "Uncle, I am like your son, right? Believe in Maya. He is really a gem and will treat her like a queen."

"It's not about that, Hobi," Mr. Krishnan said, his tone softening slightly. "It's more about the cultural differences. How will they bridge the gap between our traditions and his?"

Yoongi, feeling the weight of the moment, stepped closer. "Sir, I understand your concerns. I respect your culture and traditions deeply. I want to learn and embrace them. My love for Maya is true and unwavering. I promise to take care of her and make her happy. She means everything to me."

Mr. Krishnan looked at Yoongi, his eyes searching for sincerity. "And what about your family, Yoongi? Will they accept Maya? Will they understand our ways?"

"Yes, they will," Yoongi replied earnestly. "They will love Maya just as much as I do. We will work together to honor both our cultures and make this work. I need Maya in my life, sir. She completes me."

Maya’s eyes welled up with tears as she squeezed Yoongi’s hand. "Appa, please. Give us a chance. We can make this work. Love is stronger than any cultural barrier."

Mr. Krishnan's face hardened. "Maya, you don’t understand. I am deeply bonded to our traditions. I want you to marry someone who shares our culture, our religion. This is not just about love; it’s about maintaining our heritage."

Maya, now crying, argued back, "But, Appa, love should come first! We can respect our traditions while being together."

Her father’s frustration boiled over. "Enough! You’re being selfish! You don’t realize the implications of what you’re asking."

In a sudden outburst, Mr. Krishnan slapped Maya across the face. The room fell silent, the impact of his actions echoing in the heavy atmosphere.

Yoongi's face turned pale with shock and anger. "Enough, Uncle!" he said, stepping forward defiantly. "I won’t allow anyone to disrespect my woman. I love her, and I won’t stand by while she’s hurt."

Mr. Krishnan's eyes flashed with fury. "She is my daughter, not your woman! How dare you!"

Yoongi stood his ground, his voice firm. "I’m not disrespecting her. I’m fighting for her. If you can’t see how much she means to me, then we have a serious problem."